Rotating electric machine and foot fastening system for a rotating electric machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotating electric machine with a foot fastening system, the foot fastening system comprising at least one receiving portion, the receiving portion comprising at least one receiving and guiding portion (2) and at least one locking portion (3); wherein the at least one receiving and guiding portion (2) is configured to receive a protruding portion (5) of a foot (4); and the at least one locking portion (3) is configured to cooperate with a snap-fit ​​portion (6) of the foot.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating electric machine, and more particularly to a rotating electric machine with a foot fastening system. Background Art

[0002] Several different types of electric machine casings are known in the art, and generally comprise a housing in which the parts and components of the machine are enclosed.

[0003] As known to those skilled in the art, the housing is adapted to enclose a number of internal components and is also adapted to accommodate a range of external accessories and components which are secured to the housing by means of different fastening systems.

[0004] For example, the housing often includes support or attachment means for connecting and stabilizing the housing to a surface, such as a base or even other machinery. Such support means are often referred to as "feet".

[0005] In known machines, the foot is fixed to the housing by more than one screw, which must be unscrewed to remove the foot. Although this type of solution offers some flexibility, it is time-consuming and requires the use of additional parts (screws). Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a rotating electric machine with a foot fastening system which provides fastening versatility without having a major impact on the manufacturing and assembly process of the electric machine.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot fastening system for an electric motor, which ensures fastening and high robustness without causing a large impact on the manufacturing and assembly process of the electric motor.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotating electrical machine with a foot fastening system, wherein the foot attachment is provided by a snap fit.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a rotating electrical machine with a foot fastening system which can be easily and simply mounted to the housing by only two movements: a first vertical approach movement and a second axial displacement movement until pressure locking occurs.

[0010] The invention relates to a rotating electrical machine comprising a housing enclosing an active core having a rotor and a stator, the rotor being mounted on a shaft, wherein the housing has a foot fastening system comprising at least one receiving portion formed in the housing, comprising a receiving and guiding portion and a locking portion; wherein the at least one receiving and guiding portion is configured to receive a protruding portion of a foot; and the at least one locking portion is configured to cooperate with a snap fit of the foot.

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the fastening system comprises two lateral receiving and guiding portions and a central locking portion arranged between the lateral receiving and guiding portions. In this embodiment, the legs comprise respective lateral protruding portions and a central snap-fit ​​portion arranged between the lateral protruding portions.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fastening system includes two pairs of lateral receiving and guiding portions and a central locking portion arranged between the pairs of lateral receiving and guiding portions, and wherein the support foot includes corresponding two pairs of protruding portions and a central snap-fit ​​portion arranged between the pairs of lateral protruding portions.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one receiving and guiding portion comprises a channel having an open end, a closed end and an outer wall, the outer wall having a longitudinal split; and the at least one protruding portion is formed as a track portion having a neck and a head, the width of the neck being smaller than the smaller width of the longitudinal split of the receiving and guiding portion, and the width of the head being larger than the smaller width of the longitudinal split.

[0014] The longitudinal split of the at least one receiving and guiding portion may narrow along the channel such that the width of the split near the open end of the channel is greater than the width of the split near the closed end of the channel.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking portion comprises a protruding wall; and the central snap-fit ​​portion of the leg comprises a cut-out elongated portion having a shoulder at a free end to form a resilient portion, the shoulder of the resilient portion cooperating with the protruding wall.

[0016] The foot may include a surface which may be substantially flat or uneven, and a cut-out extension that creates a snap-fit ​​portion in the surface by forming a U-shaped cut in the surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is a side view of a motor according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of a motor according to the present invention, with the housing shown without feet;

[0020] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a receiving and guiding portion of a receiving portion of a motor according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 is a top perspective view of a foot of a motor according to the present invention; and

[0022] Figure 5 It is a bottom perspective view of the support foot of the motor according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Figure 1 A motor incorporating a foot securing system according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Although the invention is described as being incorporated in an electric motor, it should be understood that the inventive solution may also be applied to other electric machines comprising a housing, such as any rotating electric machine of this nature.

[0025] from Figure 1 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the electric motor comprises a housing which is divided in the axial direction 1 and is formed by a first housing part 1 a and a second housing part 1 b .

[0026] However, it should be noted that the present invention may be embodied in electric machines having housings having different construction features, for example, electric machines of the type including a one-piece main housing with end covers.

[0027] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment, the lower part of the housing has a foot fastening system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] The fastening system of the invention comprises a housing portion comprising a housing and guide portion 2 and at least one locking portion 3 which receives a corresponding portion of a foot 4 .

[0029] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the receiving portion comprises two pairs of receiving and guiding portions 2 and a locking portion 3. In this embodiment, the two pairs of receiving and guiding portions 2 are spaced apart from each other, whereby the locking portion 3 is arranged in the center between the spaced apart pairs. The locking portion 3 may be arranged on any housing portion as long as it is located between the positions of the receiving and guiding portions 2, and the receiving portion may have only two spaced apart receiving and guiding portions 2.

[0030] Figure 3 An enlarged view of the receiving and guiding part 2 is shown. As can be seen from this figure, the receiving and guiding part 2 comprises a channel having an open end 2a and a closed end 2b. The outer wall of the channel has a longitudinal slit 2c, so that the channel cavity has a T-shaped cross section.

[0031] In one embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal split 2c narrows along the channel such that the width of the split near the open end 2a of the channel is greater than the width of the split near the closed end 2b of the channel.

[0032] like Figure 2As best shown in FIG. 3 , the locking portion 3 comprises a protruding wall. Of course, the locking portion may have another shape, such as wall segments close to each other.

[0033] Figure 4 and Figure 5 One embodiment of a foot of one embodiment of the fastening system of the present invention is shown.

[0034] The foot 4 has at least one protruding portion 5 which is configured to be received by the at least one receiving and guiding portion 2 and a snap-fit ​​portion 6 which cooperates with the locking portion 3 .

[0035] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the foot comprises two pairs of lateral protrusions 5 and a central snap-fit ​​portion 6 arranged between the pairs of lateral protrusions 5 .

[0036] The central snap-fit ​​portion 6 of the foot comprises a cut-out extension 6a having a shoulder 6b on the free end so as to form a resilient portion, the shoulder 6b of which cooperates with the locking portion 3 of the housing.

[0037] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment shown, the foot 4 comprises a surface 4a in which a cutout extension 6a of the snap-fit ​​portion 6 is created by forming a U-shaped cutout 4b on the surface 4a. The surface may be flat, as shown in the figures, or may have any other suitable form.

[0038] The lateral protrusion 5 is preferably formed as a track portion whose neck 5a has a width smaller than the smaller width of the longitudinal split 2c of the receiving and guiding portion 2 and whose head 5b has a width greater than the smaller width of the longitudinal split 2c.

[0039] For assembly, the foot is brought vertically to the housing so that the protruding portion 5 is received by the corresponding receiving and guiding portion 2. Afterwards, the foot is displaced axially until locking occurs by snap-fit ​​between the central snap-fit ​​portion 6 and the locking portion 3 of the housing ("snap-fit" locking type, in which the shoulder 6b of the snap-fit ​​portion 6 presses against the locking portion 3 of the housing).

[0040] Thus, the foot can be easily and simply mounted on the housing by only two movements: a first vertical approach movement and a second axial displacement movement until a pressure lock occurs.

[0041] In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, in which the machine housing is divided in the axial direction, each receiving and guiding portion 2 of each pair of receiving and guiding portions 2 is arranged in one of the housing parts 1 a , 1 b .

[0042] Thus, the projections 5 of each pair of transverse projections 5 are axially spaced apart, corresponding to the axial spacing between the receiving and guiding portions 2 of each pair of receiving and guiding portions 2 .

[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, the housing 1 of the motor may have more than one receiving portion, so that three different possibilities of the foot assembly 4 are provided.

[0044] As shown, the foot also has holes 7 for screws for attaching the foot to a structure or machine (not shown).

[0045] Having described an example of an embodiment of the present invention, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible variations of the described inventive concept, being limited only by the wording of the accompanying claims, including possible equivalents.

Claims

1. A rotating electrical machine, comprising: A housing enclosing an active core having a rotor and a stator, the housing being split in the axial direction and being formed by a first housing part (1a) and a second housing part (1b), the rotor being mounted on a shaft, characterised in that the rotating electrical machine comprises a foot fastening system comprising: Two or more receiving portions formed in the housing, each of the receiving portions comprising two pairs of lateral receiving and guiding portions (2) and at least one central locking portion (3), each lateral receiving and guiding portion (2) in each pair of lateral receiving and guiding portions (2) being arranged in one of the housing portions (1a, 1b); The two pairs of lateral receiving and guiding portions (2) are configured to receive two pairs of lateral protruding portions (5) of the supporting legs (4); wherein the central locking portion (3) comprises a protruding wall arranged between the two pairs of lateral receiving and guiding portions (2); wherein the support foot (4) comprises a central snap-fit ​​portion (6) arranged between the two pairs of lateral protruding portions (5); The central snap-fit ​​portion (6) comprises a cut-out extension (6a) having a shoulder (6b) on a free end so as to form a resilient portion, the shoulder (6b) of the resilient portion cooperating with the protruding wall, wherein the leg (4) comprises a flat base (4a) and the cut-out extension (6a) of the central snap-fit ​​portion (6) is formed in the flat base (4a) by forming a U-shaped cut-out (4b) in the flat base (4a); At least one receiving and guiding portion (2) comprises a channel having an open end (2a), a closed end (2b) and an outer wall, said outer wall having a longitudinal slit (2c); And the corresponding protruding portion (5) received in the at least one accommodating and guiding portion (2) is formed as a track portion having a neck (5a) and a head (5b), the width of the neck (5a) being smaller than the smaller width of the longitudinal slit (2c) of the at least one accommodating and guiding portion (2), and the width of the head (5b) being larger than the smaller width of the longitudinal slit (2c).

2. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 1, wherein: The central snap-fit ​​portion (6) is arranged centrally between the lateral protruding portions (5).

3. The rotating electrical machine according to claim 1, wherein: The longitudinal slit (2c) of the at least one receiving and guiding portion (2) narrows along the channel so that the width of the longitudinal slit (2c) near the open end (2a) of the channel is greater than the width of the longitudinal slit (2c) near the closed end (2b) of the channel.

4. A foot fastening system for a rotating electrical machine, comprising: A housing enclosing an active core having a rotor and a stator, the housing being split in the axial direction and formed by a first housing part (1a) and a second housing part (1b), the rotor being mounted on a shaft, characterized in that: The housing has two or more receiving portions formed therein, each of the receiving portions comprising two pairs of lateral receiving and guiding portions (2) and at least one central locking portion (3), each lateral receiving and guiding portion (2) in each pair of lateral receiving and guiding portions (2) being arranged in one of the housing parts (1a, 1b); and The foot fastening system comprises a foot (4), the foot (4) comprising two corresponding pairs of lateral protruding portions (5), the protruding portions (5) being configured to be received in the two pairs of lateral receiving and guiding portions (2), wherein the central locking portion (3) comprises a protruding wall arranged between the two pairs of lateral receiving and guiding portions (2), wherein the support foot (4) comprises a central snap-fit ​​portion (6) arranged between the two pairs of lateral protruding portions (5); The central snap-fit ​​portion (6) comprises a cut-out extension (6a) having a shoulder (6b) on a free end so as to form a resilient portion, the shoulder (6b) of the resilient portion cooperating with the protruding wall, the leg (4) comprising a flat base (4a), and the cut-out extension (6a) of the central snap-fit ​​portion (6) is formed in the flat base (4a) by forming a U-shaped cut-out (4b) in the flat base (4a); and The at least one receiving and guiding portion (2) comprises a channel having an open end (2a), a closed end (2b) and an outer wall, the outer wall having a longitudinal slit (2c); And the corresponding protruding portion (5) received in at least one of the accommodating and guiding portions (2) is formed as a track portion having a neck (5a) and a head (5b), the width of the neck (5a) being smaller than the smaller width of the longitudinal slit (2c) of the at least one accommodating and guiding portion (2), and the width of the head (5b) being larger than the smaller width of the longitudinal slit (2c).

5. The leg fastening system according to claim 4, wherein: The central snap-fit ​​portion (6) is arranged centrally between the lateral protruding portions (5).

6. The leg fastening system according to claim 4, wherein: The longitudinal slit (2c) of the at least one receiving and guiding portion (2) narrows along the channel so that the width of the longitudinal slit (2c) near the open end (2a) of the channel is greater than the width of the longitudinal slit (2c) near the closed end (2b) of the channel.

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